First pictures and details of the new Volvo V60

Hot on the heels of the S60 saloon, which is due on sale this Summer, Volvo has announced details of the saloon version, the V60.

Volvo has broken with tradition for the new model by giving it the same model number as the saloon. Previously, estate versions of the S60 have been called V70.

It's said to combine estate-car practicality with with coupé design and driving characteristics. With the rear seats in place there's 430 litres of luggage space and the rear seats have a 40/20/40 split and fold flat for extra space.

As you'd expect from Volvo, safety is a top priority and several new systems make their debut on the V60. There's a Pedestrian Detection system with Full Auto Brake available as an option and the availability of a 180 degree camera at the front of the car to make pulling out of T-Junctions easier.

DESIGN: COUPÉ RATHER THAN ESTATE CAR STYLE

The pronounced wedge shape and the slim coupe-like roof line of the new Volvo V60 are accompanied by the high shoulder profile along the car's sides, creating a gentle yet powerful double wave from the headlamps at the front to the tail lamps at the rear.

"From the design viewpoint, the focus was on making the car as close to a coupé as possible, while retaining that handy extra space at the rear. Our sports wagon does not aim to compete with the traditional estate car. For the customer who wants a lot of load space, there is our V70 or XC70," says Örjan Sterner, head of exterior design for the new Volvo V60. He adds: "The dip in the middle of the double wave visually pushes the car down. This enhances the stance and makes the car look sleeker and lower. The sculpted bonnet and the short overhangs front and rear also emphasise the sports car feel."

Dynamism is further enhanced by what Volvo's design team calls the "racetrack" design. The car's lines do not end abruptly but instead continue to flow organically, continually, echoing the smooth shapes of the racetrack.

Volvo's designers have integrated LED (Light Emitting Diode) technology to create distinctive light patterns both front and rear. The vertical position lights at the front, the side-marker lights, the turn indicators integrated into the door mirrors and the tail lamps at the rear all give the new V60 an unmistakable profile even in the dark.

Exciting styling pack

A styling pack gives the V60 buyer the opportunity to boost the sporty attitude. The styling pack includes front and rear skid plates, a front decor trim, side scuff plates, special exhaust tailpipes and 18-inch wheels.

CHASSIS AND DRIVING DYNAMICS

Volvo Cars' chassis experts worked on the driving experience in the new Volvo V60 with the same passion given to the development of the all-new S60. The result is a sports wagon with driving properties that do the sporting appearance full justice.

During the development process, the chassis team worked on the new Volvo V60 in parallel with the all-new Volvo S60. The result is a solution that features changes and refinements to virtually every single detail that effects the car's load carrying capabilities.

Volvo's new sports wagon is available with a choice of two chassis. In the European market, the newly developed dynamic chassis is standard, while other markets will have the touring chassis as standard with the dynamic variant available as an option. The difference between the two chassis alternatives is to be found in the dampers and the front and rear subframes. Here the touring variant has softer settings to give a smooth ride on poorer road surfaces.

In addition to the two standard chassis, all variants of the V60 can be specified with the optional FOUR-C (Continuously Controlled Chassis Concept) active chassis, which has been modified and refined for better control and comfort compared with previous Volvos.

The first sports wagon with Advanced Stability Control

The dynamic chassis is backed up by a range of electronic systems that sharpen the sporty driving experience further. Like the all-new S60, the new V60 is fitted with Advanced Stability Control. With a new roll angle sensor, it is possible to identify any skidding tendency at a very early stage. This means that the stability control system can step in earlier and with greater precision.

New Corner Traction Control for smoother cornering

Corner Traction Control is a new feature that uses torque vectoring so the car corners more smoothly. This technology is a further refinement of the Dynamic Stability and Traction Control (DSTC) system. When cornering, the car's inner driven wheel is braked, causing more power to be transmitted to the outer driven wheel. This allows the driver to corner more tightly while reducing any tendency to understeer.

ENGINES

During its first year of production, the new Volvo V60 will be available with a variety of diesel and petrol engines spanning an economical 115 horsepower DRIVe version to an eager high-performance turbocharged T6 model producing 304 horsepower. The focused drive to cut CO2 emissions has lowered fuel consumption throughout the engine range.

More powerful T6 version

The T6 petrol engine has a displacement of 3.0 litres and now pumps out 304 bhp and 440 Nm of torque. Acceleration from 0-62 mph takes 6.6 seconds and top speed is limited to 155 mph.

At the same time, Volvo Cars' engine specialists have succeeded in cutting fuel consumption by about 10 per cent to 27.7 mpg (EU Combined). The engine's power is delivered to the wheels via Volvo's second-generation six-speed automatic Geartronic transmission. New valves and lower friction mean faster gearchanges than before. AWD (All Wheel Drive) is standard on the T6.

Two new 1.6-litre GTDi petrol engines

In addition there is a new 1.6-litre GTDi engine which is available in two versions: 1.6 GTDi (T3) with 150 horsepower and T4 with 180 horsepower

The 180 bhp engine offers maximum torque of 240 Nm from just 1500 rpm all the way up to 5000 rpm. During short-term overboost, it provides an impressive 270 Nm of torque. This gives excellent flexibility throughout the speed range. The 150 horsepower engine offers 240 Nm of torque.

The T4 is available in combination with Volvo's automatic six-speed Powershift transmission or a six-speed manual gearbox, while the T3 comes with a manual gearbox only.

Two five-cylinder turbodiesels

The engine range also includes two five-cylinder turbodiesels. The D5 high-performance engine with twin turbos produces 205 horsepower and 420 Nm of torque. Acceleration from 0-62 mph takes 7.9 seconds (manual and automatic). Top speed is 143 mph (limited) with the manual and automatic gearbox.

In the most recent D5 version, which was introduced in spring 2009, performance and driveability requirements have been met by fitting two turbochargers of different sizes, one taking over from the other and providing added power across a broader rev range. The complementary properties of the two turbos are utilised optimally for a combination of high performance and low fuel consumption of 52.5 mpg (EU Combined).

In addition there is the newly developed two-litre D3 producing 163 bhp and 400 Nm of torque. Acceleration from 0-62 mph takes 9.4 seconds (manual and automatic). Top speed is 136 mph (manual) and 133 mph (automatic). The new five-cylinder 2.0D is, in principle, the same engine as the present 2.4D, but cylinder capacity has been reduced with a shorter stroke to optimise fuel consumption. Both turbodiesels are available with a six-speed Geartronic transmission or six-speed manual gearbox.

DRIVe diesel

During the course of the first year of production, a DRIVe version of the new V60 will also be introduced, featuring a 1.6-litre diesel engine. The engine produces 115 bhp and 270 Nm of torque, and will only be available with a six-speed manual gearbox.

Later during the first year of production, the new V60 will also become available in a T5 petrol variant producing 240 bhp and 320 Nm of torque.

The all-new Volvo V60 is packed with high-tech solutions that actively help the driver avoid accidents - and help protect the occupants if an accident is unavoidable.

Pedestrian Detection with full auto brake

Pedestrian Detection with full auto brake can detect if a pedestrian steps out into the road in front of the car. If the driver does not respond in time, the car can automatically activate the brakes.

In an emergency situation the driver first receives an audible warning combined with a flashing light in the windscreen's head-up display. In order to prompt an immediate, intuitive reaction, this warning resembles a brake light. At the same time, the car's brakes are pre-charged. If the driver does not react to the warning and an accident is imminent, full braking power is automatically applied.

Pedestrian Detection with full auto brake can avoid a collision with a pedestrian at speeds up to 21 mph if the driver does not react in time. At higher speeds, the focus is on reducing the car's speed as much as possible prior to impact. Speed can be reduced by up to 15 mph. Statistics reveal that the car's speed has considerable importance for the outcome of the accident. A lower speed of impact means that the risk of serious injury is significantly reduced.

City Safety as standard

The new Volvo V60 also features City Safety as standard. With City Safety, the car automatically brakes if the driver fails to react in time when the vehicle in front slows down or stops - or if he or she is driving too fast towards a stationary object. The system can lessen or even entirely avoid low-speed rear-end impacts at speeds up to 18 mph.

Volvo's new sports wagon can naturally also be equipped with a range of additional solutions that help the driver to drive more safely, such as:

Driver Alert Control (DAC). A unique technology to alert tired and distracted drivers. This function monitors the car's progress between the lane markers and warns the driver if his or her driving pattern changes in a random or uncontrolled way.Lane Departure Warning (LDW) alerts the driver if the car runs across the lane markers without the turn indicator being used.Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) helps detect vehicles in the offset rear blind spot on both sides of the car. A warning lamp beside the relevant door mirror comes on to alert the driver to the danger.Active Xenon Lights are articulated headlights that follow the curve of the road. For best possibility illumination when driving in the dark on twisting roadsRollover Protection System (ROPS)

The new Volvo V60 is equipped with the Roll Over Protection System (ROPS) as standard.

Advanced sensor technology ensures that the belt pre-tensioners and the inflatable curtains deploy in the event of a rollover. This, combined with the safety cage, helps reduce the risk of occupant injury in such situations.

Collision safety including improved Inflatable Curtains

In a collision situation, the well-balanced combination of high-strength steel of various grades interacts to help prevent intrusion into the passenger compartment. The front body structure of the new V60 is divided into four zones, each of which has a different task in the event of deformation. The transverse engine installation creates more space for deformation and helps reduce the risk of intrusion into the passenger compartment in a frontal collision.

The new V60 has safety belt pre-tensioners in all the seats. The Pre-Prepared Restraints (PRS) regulate the airbags and the safety belt load limiters to optimise protection depending on the force of the impact.

Among its various other safety systems the V60 also has an advanced Side Impact Protection System, seat-mounted side airbags, Inflatable Curtains and the Whiplash Protection System - one of the market's most effective systems for avoiding neck injuries.

The SIPS (Side Impact Protection System) has been further developed in the new V60 to cover a wider range of collision scenarios, for instance if the car is hit from the side ahead of, or behind, the passenger compartment. This has been made possible through the unique use of a gyro to control activation of the inflatable curtains, side-impact airbags and safety belt pre-tensioners. This is possible by combining information from sensors in the car with data from the gyro that is part of the Dynamic Stability and Traction Control (DSTC) system.

"The new Volvo V60 is a worthy representative of our aim to build the world's safest cars - and it marks yet another step towards our goal of no fatalities or serious injuries in a new Volvo car by the year 2020," says Thomas Broberg, Senior Safety Advisor at Volvo Cars.

INSIDE THE ALL-NEW VOLVO V60

The interior of the V60 sports wagon is a clear example of how Volvo Cars' designers have added excitement and contrast to the Scandinavian design tradition's rational simplicity and functionality. The V60 is a five-seater car offering comfortable space for all its occupants.

The 40/20/40-split rear seat and the fold-flat front passenger seat make it possible to combine passengers and load in a very flexible way. Each backrest in the three-piece rear seat is folded with exceptional ease to create an entirely flat load floor. The rear seat headrests can be folded electrically.The load area has been designed for maximum utilisation of each available millimetre. The 1095 millimetre wide tailgate in combination with extra space behind the wheel housings and under the load floor is an example of the systematic approach adopted to ensure generous load capacity. The load area has a capacity of 430 litres with the rear seats in place.The rear seat can be specified with integrated child booster cushions in the two outer seats. "Load-carrying ability is not just about volume. It is equally about the load space's shape and flexibility. We have worked hard to free-up load-carrying area and to provide capacity that truly makes a difference to the car owner. We have created the extra centimetres you need to bring with you those items that give life that added spice," says Jonathan Disley, head of interior design in the new V60.

Easily accessible storage space is an important part of interior comfort and convenience. For instance, the new V60 has a storage compartment behind the centre stack and another in the centre console armrest, while in the door pockets there is space for books, maps and soft-drink bottles and cans. Both the front and rear seat occupants have seat pockets within easy reach.

In the field of comfort, there are features such as the optional Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), which automatically maintains a set gap to the vehicle in front. What is new is that the Adaptive Cruise Control operates at speeds below 30 km/h, all the way down to standstill in a car with automatic transmission.

The new V60 can be equipped with parking sensors front and rear and a Park Assist camera at the rear. A camera in the front grille with a 180° field of vision is a new Volvo feature that is available as an accessory. The camera is a great asset when manoeuvring in crossings with limited view or when driving out from a tight and narrow exit such as a parking garage. The image from the camera is displayed on the 7-inch screen in the centre stack.

Entirely new Infotainment system

The new V60, like the all-new S60, gets an all-new Infotainment system where information is presented on a five-inch or seven-inch colour screen in the instrument panel. The screen has a high position to make it easy for the driver to keep his or her eyes on the road.

The Volvo V60 is one of the first car models in the world to use the Audyssey Laboratories MultEQ technology. MultEQ eliminates the distortion caused by the car cabin's acoustics, providing crisp, clear sound with improved soundstage for everyone in the car.

In addition to the top-of-the line Premium Sound, which comes with a 7-inch screen, there are another three audio systems, all of which have been tailored for the V60 by Volvo Cars' own experts.

Dolby Digital gives perfect concert quality

The new Volvo V60 can be specified with Dolby Digital which provides a more distinct surround-sound audio experience from Dolby Digital soundtracks. The result is perfect concert quality when listening to live-recorded music. The system also features Dolby Pro Logic II Surround that transforms ordinary stereo content into rich, full-range surround sound.

Clean Zone Interior gives enhanced comfort

The Electronic Climate Control system, ECC, offers automatic control of both temperature and ventilation. The car can be equipped with IAQS (Interior Air Quality System) which prevents particles and unpleasant odours from entering the cabin.

To offer highly sensitive passengers even better climate comfort, the system has also been equipped with Clean Zone Interior, a system based on ECC and IAQS. When the car is unlocked using the remote control, the passenger compartment is automatically ventilated if the outdoor temperature exceeds 10 degrees Celsius.

"The interior of the new V60 is all about innovative design in two areas: form and technology. The design is characterised by sporty freshness down to the smallest detail. The technological aspect includes all those smart solutions that contribute to a driving experience unlike that of any other Volvo - from collision avoidance safety and comfort systems to infotainment and audio excellence of absolute world class," concluded Tomas Ahlborg.

European target group

The initial annual target for the new Volvo V60 is 50,000 cars, 90 per cent of which will go to European buyers. The five largest markets are Sweden, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Italy and Germany. The new V60 will be built at the Volvo Cars production plant in Torslanda, Sweden and first cars will be delivered to customers in autumn 2010.

Borrowing £7,500 over 4 years with a representative APR of 25.4%, an annual interest rate of 25.4% (Fixed) and a deposit of £0.00, the amount payable would be £239.77 per month, with a total cost of credit of £4,008.96 and a total amount payable of £11,508.96.